Cong nominee Hussain Dalwai wins RS poll

Hussain Dalwai of the Congress on Friday won the Rajya Sabha by-election in Maharashtra, which was allegedly marked by cross voting by four independents supporting the ruling Congress in the 287-member state assembly.

Congress nominee Hussain Dalwai was on Friday elected to the Rajya Sabha. Dalwai bagged 175 votes, defeating the Shiv Sena-BJP-MNS supported Bal Mane, who bagged 105 votes. Although Dalwai's election was a foregone conclusion, the Congress, which leads the Democratic Front alliance, cut a sorry figure, since two independent legislators cross-voted, while the votes of two independent legislators were declared invalid.

In the state assembly, the Congress has 82 members and the NCP has 62, while the Congress and NCP have the support of 12 independents each.

A Congress minister, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Business Standard, “It seems four independents supporting the Congress have ditched us. This is despite the assurance given by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and state party unit chief Manikrao Thakre for an early approval of pending works in their respective assembly constituencies.”

A BJP nominee managed to secure two more votes against the combined strength of 103 of Sena-BJP-MNS in the state assembly. NCP's three members could not participate in Friday’s voting, while a CPM member was absent.

A Congress legislator said, “The party was quite confident of Dalwai’s victory. But it is really embarassing that four of the 12 independents supporting us failed to keep their promise. The party would have to take this very seriously, especially when the by-election to the state council would soon take place after Dalwai’s election to the Rajya Sabha. It would be quite difficult for the party if it renominates Sanjay Dutt who had resigned in April to pave way for chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s election to the state council.”